3D (and 2D) Reindeer

As mentioned in my last couple of projects, the last items to be included for my stall at my wife’s village Christmas Fair are these reindeer, made using the method and pattern from Matthias Wandel – http://woodgears.ca/reindeer

Here in the UK, one of the most popular Christmas songs is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, so I used red map pins for the noses – and Avril added the bows. They look very cute.

Careful slicing on a bandsaw enables two 2D versions to be created from the side pieces left after cutting out the 3D shape.

I used some Cedar Danish Oil to give a suitable colour, but the deer were made from some scraps of tanalised wood left over after making a storage box for water bottles in the village churchyard, which explains why one side of each of the 2D versions has a definite greenish tinge !

I also found a couple of bandsaw boxes left over from last year, so – hopefully – I should have enough ‘stuff’ to make a reasonable display.

Very true Roger, and I did intend to make quite a few more, but I kept breaking bandsaw blades.

I used a small (9 inch ?) Delta bandsaw I purchased second-hand, and it seems to work quite well apart from the breaking blades – 3/16” x 4tpi SuperTuff Carbon Bandsaw Blades. I was not pushing hard – letting the saw do the work – and I tried changing the tension, but still the blades broke, and it was only pine I was cutting. The wheels look aligned OK and it runs true, so I am a bit baffled – three dead blades to make six reindeer!

After getting down to the last one, I went over the saw’s set-up again, and cleaned and oiled the top and bottom ballraces that the back of the blade presses against. I even reversed the top one so that unworn side surfaces touch the blade. When I get the broken blades rejoined or replaced, I’ll try some more and see if the tuning has sorted the problem.

It is very frustrating, and the shock I get when the blade breaks is not funny either!

looking at your workshop pictures I see what looks like a blue three wheel bandsaw. If that is what you are using to cut out the raindeer, your going to keep breaking blades. My first bandsaw was a three wheel from sears and I had the same problem. I then bought a 12 inch two wheel from my great uncle. The difference was night and day. But I was still going through about 2 quarter inch blades every week. But I was cutting a lot more stuff with each blade. With practice and advise from my great uncle, I learned to get about 2 weeks worth of cutting out of each blade. My great uncle who was never shy about voicing his opinion, said three wheel bandsaws were junk.

I now have a 14 inch Delta. using two 3/16 inch blades I cut out 8 bandsaw boxes 4 inches thick and all 32 drawers which include cutting out the middle of the drawers, 27 reindeer and 2 sleighs. And the second blade is still good.

TDSpade – the workshop picture you viewed is rather out-of-date (I must post a new one!) and I agree with your uncle about that 3-wheel saw being junk. However, it was the first woodworking power tool I purchased after a lathe – which was equally as cheap and nasty – when I started turning small pot-pourri bowls for which my wife made enamelled lids. They added a little extra touch to the display of enamel jewellery she used to sell at craft shows. The saw was just for cutting woodturning blanks, and I kept it for some years after we both retired.

Since retiring I have acquired a number of woodworking machines, including a larger two-wheeled bandsaw, as well as the smaller second-hand Delta two-wheeler mentioned above. Some of these can be seen below, but the larger bandsaw is out in the ‘railway carriage’ workshop, along with woodworking and metal turning lathes, scroll saw and mortising machine.

As you can see, I am rather pushed for room in my part of the garage, and am still as untidy as ever.

Sorry Don, I can’t offer you any further advice about the Band Saw that what has already been said. Only things I might stress is to make sure the alignment is OK and perhaps use a sharpening stone to take the edge off the back of the blade, this prevents drag on the blade.Pity though, they would have made excellent Christmas items.

-- Roger-R, Republic of Texas. "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" - An eyeball to eyeball confrontation with a blind person is as complete waste of Time.

Yeah Don, I need to update my shop description and photos too. That little delta 9 inch looks like a good saw. I use a 10 tpi 3/16 inch carter blade with the carter stabilizer. The carter stabilizer almost makes the blade too flexible. But I am getting used to it and do prefer using it to guides, or even cool blocks. I back off all tension when not using my bandsaw. The carter stabilizer deformed one blade when I left the tension on with out using the bandsaw for a week or two.